Art in Our Gardens

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Amateur painter and sculptor Harvey Ladew had a keen appreciation of art in many forms —
painting, traditional sculpture, and of course, the art of topiary. 
Over the years, Ladew Gardens has welcomed local, national and internationally renowned artists to the Gardens to exhibit and sell their work. 
 

A TALE OF TWO SAMS: Ladew Artists-in-Residence Sam Robinson and Sam Holmes

 

ART IN OUR GARDENS
Sam Robinson
www.SamRobinsonFineArt.com 



About Sam Robinson
Sam Robinson was born in 1953 in New York City. At the age of six, his parents moved to South Korea to serve as medical missionaries, where Sam lived until graduating from high school. He showed an early interest in art, and his first formal instruction was in the Korean version of painting in ink on paper, an excellent start in brush handling. Sam attended the Maryland Institute College of Art, graduating Magna Cum Laude in 1978 with a degree in painting. Since that time he has made his living as a professional artist and as the owner and founder of The Valley Craftsmen, Ltd., a decorative finish contracting firm.

Throughout the 2022 season Sam will be painting plein air scenes and portraits all around the Gardens and Manor House. Be sure to say hello if you see him painting in the garden. Learn from and get to know Sam in his Spring Plein Air Painting class at Ladew and at his Fall Lecture. Sam’s work will be available for viewing and sale at Ladew’s Spring Garden Festival and again at the annual Fall Art Show and Sale. Commissions are also available. A portion of the proceeds from each sale will go to support Ladew’s Art in our Gardens program.


Plein Air Workshop
Artists will enjoy this 2-day workshop to paint beautiful scenes of Ladew Gardens and learn techniques from Sam Robinson. Sam will be demonstrating the use of Gouache, a medium that has enjoyed a revival as more artists want to paint quickly on location. Participants are welcome to paint in the medium of their choice. Each day will include demonstrations, painting in the gardens, and guidance. 

Saturday, June 4 (9:30 am - 3:30 pm) & Sunday,  June 5 (9:30 am - 1 pm) | Ages 16 and up
$200 Members | $250 Non-members
Provided |Supply list, instruction, and inspiration
You Bring | Drinks, snacks/lunch, outdoor easel (and chair if needed), painting supplies
For questions | Please contact Sue Myers at 410.557.9570 x213 or smyers@ladewgardens.com 

Annual Art Show and Sale
Saturday, September 17
 Exhibit will remain open Sunday, Sept. 18 - Sunday, Oct 2 (10 am-3 pm) for viewing and purchase
 

Sam Robinson Paintings
Sam Robinson sees many exciting parallels between his life and that of Harvey Ladew. In addition to gardening, Harvey Ladew loved horses, fox hunting, travel, the arts, and socializing. Sam is well known for his scenes of timber racing, fox chasing, and local landscapes. Ladew’s beautiful gardens, as well as gardens created by Sam’s wife Barbara, and scenes from their travels are also favorite motifs. Additionally, Sam paints luscious interiors, dynamic gatherings and portraits. We are thrilled to have Sam with us at Ladew this year and look forward to seeing all those things that Harvey loved celebrated in paint.

Sam’s beautiful paintings are characterized by a fluent painterly realism. Gouache is one of his favorite mediums. Portable and quick, it makes up most of his direct work done from life. Oils are his primary medium for larger studio work.

“In today’s saturated world of digital photographic images, the point of painting is the handmade mark and the poetic interpretation of the life around us.” Sam Robinson

 

 

SCULPTURE IN OUR GARDENS
Sam Christian Holmes
www.samholmesart.com

Sam Holmes, a Baltimore City artist and educator, and has spent most of his career combining his love for making art and teaching art. He specializes in printmaking, sculpture, and digital arts. His colorful welded steel sculptures can be seen throughout the city and beyond. Each is a symbiosis of the strengths of the site, the community, and himself. You may be familiar with his wonderful, whimsical In The Garden, a 14' wide x 20' tall installation, located at the entrance to Baltimore's Federal Hill neighborhood. A theme for this piece and much of his work is contemplation — a perfect fit for Ladew. Sam often uses the symbolism of gates and totems to tell a lyrical story rich in history.


 

 

 

 

 

 

“My works are born out of an iconography in respect for the blacksmithing traditions associated with the African diaspora. The language of the wrought iron gate/fence was during a creolization of the captive craftsman caught in the slave trade and West African bronze workers; images long associated with the religious practices found throughout the African harbors of export. My marks reflect that history while exploring my own personal narratives.”

 

We look forward to experiencing Sam's dynamic totems within our ever growing and changing meadows, which will be on display throughout this year.